Hi Martin
There has been no rain and I will be amazed if there is any. we had a few
drops-literally! I have just walked the Larapinta trail and birds were
scarce-56 species in 13 days. There were some good sightings. Approx six
sightings of dusky grasswren, the locations being Simpsons gap, right down
by where yoiu see the rock wallabies, Mt Sonder, on trail about 2-3 kms from
Redbank gorge and Hugh Gorge-really good sighting approx 500 metres up the
gorge from campground. Some of these places are on teh Larapinta trail and
not very accessible by car. Probably the best bird was grey falcon at Jay
Creek campground. Good sightings for me were getting really clear about
when I am seeing a slaty backed thornbill which has been a bugbear of mine.
Also at Jay Creek campground on Larapinta trail were golden backed form of
black chinned honeyeater. Major mitchells were seen at Ellery Creek adn
Serpentine chalet. These last three sightings were all early morning when
still in sleeping bag!
I checked the flowering Eucalyptus socialis trees at Serpentine gorge
closely as we camped among them and saw no grey honeyeater, although I see
Don roberson has also seen a grey honeyeater there recently. The grey
honeyeater is becoming my mythical bird!
In terms of your other questions I have no info. If I wanted to see
spinifex bird I would try the site on the road into Ormiston and rufous
crowned emu wren I would go to Santa Teresa road. Dusky grasswren could be
anywhere, there is spinifex, but if you are fit enough I would still go to
Mt Gillen-look up field naturalists site for directions.
Good luck with your trip to Alice.
Gary
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